Custom 5 Floor Split-Level Home Elevator in Washington, D.C.
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Space Remodeled
Split-Level Home Interior
Style
Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator
Custom Home Elevator Solution for Five Floor Split Level Home
For many years we have had various owner(s) on Unicorn Lane NW call us out to design an elevator solution. Built in the 1970’s these wonderful homes 5 story split levels were not a challenge to the original buyers in their 30’s and 40’s. In their 60’s or 70’s five flights of steps can become a serious daily challenge. Unfortunately, the only way to touch every floor in any split level is to be in the middle where all floors overlap. On Unicorn Lane NW DC that place predictably is where the staircase is. At first it seemed obvious the staircase wraps a 34” hole from top to bottom. The entire stair well 106” wide. Put the elevator between the stairs and the problem would be solved.
We are a Premier Dealer for Pneumatic Vacuum Home Elevators.
They make three models named after their outside diameters a 30”, a 37” and a 52”. Each model can go 5 stops but each also had configuration limitations. The 30 inch model would fit but the doors must be stacked one above the other, so we could touch 3 floors or 2 but not 5. The 52” model could not possibly fit in a 34” space without modifying the staircase. After modification each staircase would then be only 27” wide. Not good to thin. The 37” unit still required the staircase be modified but only by 1.5” on each staircase riser. Considering an inch of tread overhang on each side that seemed a feasible design option.
Unfortunately, all three models had another configuration limitation each floors had to be separated by a minimum of 92”. Put another way the opposing doors could not overlap. Common floor separation in any split level is 48” to 60” so the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator simply was not going to work. Any other home elevator solution was going to be too big for the staircase or would only reach two or three floors such as the shaftless Stiltz Lifts models. For years we could not find a solution and would have to recommend a Stair Chair lift. A depressing thing to look at, essential a statement that the owner had gotten old and decrepit. Many residence on Unicorn Lane were sold by original owners simply because they could not longer handle the stairs and there seemed to be no available solution.
Customized Specifically for Split Level Homes.
A solution finally arrives for a few qualified dealers, a customized Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator where the tube sections were split horizontally & vertically allowing opposing doors to overlap. Signature Elevators & Accessible Design rebuilt the staircase by moving the stringer next to the open space between the stairs 1’ further away i.e. closer to the abutting wall. In addition, the tread overhang where it met the apex of the elevator was trimmed back an inch on each side. Then the landing floors were extended to abut the elevator in the center of the space. In addition, the balustrade was rebuilt to curve around the elevator. Last step, after a month of meticulous carpentry work all done by our in house craftsmen, a new custom made PVE 37 with opposing and overlapping doors was installed. Always envisioned and now a reality.
The homeowner could not be happier. Easy access to her entire 5 story home without having to make even a single step!
Contact Signature Elevators Today for Your Residential Elevator in Maryland & Washington DC!
Signature Elevators & Accessible Design, LLC works with leading manufacturers to provide you with the beautiful residential elevator that you need. Located in Rockville, MD, we have years of experience with incorporating elevators into multi-story homes and working with customers to ensure the elevator meets their specific needs. With styles from modern tubes to wood-paneled cabs, Signature Elevators has all the tools you need to build the perfect elevator for your home! Visit our website or contact us at (301)-251-1659 for more information. The manufacturers we represent are:








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My experience working with signature elevators was great. Each team member represented the company in a very professional manner. Shoutouts to my salesperson, Spencer… as well as my construction team. Alex and his helper were awesome and very accommodating. The final crew that came to do…
We had a Stiltz Trio Alta installed by Signature technicians Pablo, Viktor, and Mauricio and are very pleased. They were courteous, pleasant, and neat, cleaned everything up after themselves. The elevator works great and is a wonderful addition to our home. The whole process from start…
Waited a year after my Stiltz Trio Alto elevator was installed so that I could give a realistic review. All the steps -from research (reading the excellent reviews), contacting the company, the home visit, timely estimate, and installation went very well. The installation crew were skilled,…
Signature Elevators are a great operation. My PVE elevator shorted out after a recent storm. Area Access -who installed the elevator (a terrible company) could not come out to the house for a month! I called Signature who responded immediately. They fixed the short in 10…
I highly recommend Signature Elevator. We have a townhouse built in 2001 and needed a three floor elevator installed. The workmen were very professional, and very skilled. George came every morning like clockwork. He respected our privacy and took care to assure us that our concerns…